Drip irrigation emitter embodied in a water conduit pressure compensating with self-regulation

ABSTRACT

One piece, in-line, water pressure compensating with self-regulation emitter, consisting of one regulator cylinder permanently embodied inside a water conduit on which conduit holes have been opened, at the point where the emitter is embodied, so that the water drips out onto the soil. The emitter self-regulates to provide a constant emission of water. This self-regulation is accomplished by a flexible part of the emitter body, which deforms in response to pressure variations within the water conduit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an emitter which compensates waterpressure for use in drip irrigation pipes. More particularly theinvention relates to a one piece water regulating emitter embodiedinside an under pressure conduit, which enables the water emission rateto be controlled permanently and independently of the pressurevariations applied on the emitter, inside the conduit.

2. Background of the Invention

Drip irrigation is recognized as a superior system of water irrigationfor various cultivations. The objective of the system is to irrigate aprecise area of soil around a plant in order to:

a) Avoid compacting of soil

b) Minimize weed growth

c) Minimize water consumption

d) Minimize the energy and labor costs of irrigation

For this reason there is a great need for drip irrigation systems thatare highly economical in their construction, installation, operation,maintenance and storage.

One of the most important functions of the emitter is the compensationof various water pressures applied on the emitter, so that water isemitted at a constant rate of flow at the emission outlet points of theemitter and reaches the plant in a constant desired volume, as it isactually needed and where it is needed.

DRAWBACKS OF THE EXISTING DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS TODAY

There are numerous systems of drip irrigation available. Not all of themgive full satisfaction to the grower. Many of them are not suitable foruse more than one season, since they clog quickly. Most importantly, theemission of water from the emitters is not uniform in volume, due totheir inability to compensate the pressure variations of the waterapplied on the emitter. Thus, the plants receive different volume ofwater at different points, all along the linear sowed or planted lines.This fact results in non-equal plant growth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objectives of the present invention are the following:

1) To overcome today's existing difficulties and drawbacks by makingavailable a flexible emitter with elastic properties, which can beembodied in the inside of a conduit and has the capability to compensatepressure variations with self-regulation. The emitter has part of itsinternal surface exposed to the water pressure existing inside theconduit, which exposed part is deformed each time by the appliedpressure.

2) To provide an emitter of the type described above, whichself-regulates to provide a constant water flow, independently of thetopographical conditions or the pressure variations of the water appliedon the emitter.

3) To provide an emitter of the type described above which can be usedin irrigation conduits of a substantially greater length.

4) To provide an emitter made in such a way so that passage is formedbetween the outer sculptured wall of the emitter and the inner wall ofthe water conduit. This passage mainly consists of:

a) holes opened on the emitter for water entrance

b) the formed passage labyrinth which leads the water into the emitter

c) the flexible and elastic part (hereinafter "deformable part") of thelabyrinth passage, which self-regulates to compensate water pressurevariations inside the water conduit.

5) To provide an emitter on which a peripheral channel is placed in themiddle of the emitter's length, where the water arrives after passingthrough the deformable self-regulating part (which controls the flowrate). The water exits the peripheral channel, through preopened holeson the conduit, exactly positioned on the point where the peripheralchannel is placed. The water then passes out of the conduit to irrigatethe soil.

6) To provide an emitter upon which the existing peripheral channel asdescribed above is equipped with side rings, so that these rings protectthe channel from compression on the inside wall of the water conduit.

7) To provide an emitter as described above, which, being symmetrical,does not require any special positioning inside the conduit, but can bepositioned either by the front or back sides, since the water exitchannel is located in the middle of the emitter's length.

8) To provide an emitter as described above, constructed completely fromflexible material, having elastic properties, without creating problemsand difficulties during assembling and which emitter is highlycost-effective.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. A side view of the emitter as described in the presentinvention.

FIG. 2. A view of the emitter from the side opposite the view of FIG. 1as described in the present invention.

FIG. 3. A section on the line A--A' of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4. A section on the line B--B' of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5. A longitudinal section of a piece of an irrigation conduitshowing a side view of the inserted emitter.

FIG. 6. A longitudinal section of a piece of an irrigation conduitshowing a view of the emitter from the side opposite the view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7. A section on the line C--C' of FIG. 5 on which appearsdeformation of the emitter part when water is running inside the conduitunder hydraulic pressure.

FIG. 8. A section on the line D--D' of FIG. 6 on which appears thedeformation of the emitter when water is running in the conduit underhydraulic pressure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in moredetail than necessary. The aim of the description is that the inventionbecomes simply understandable and also so obvious, to those skilled intheart, that the description given with drawings, may indeed takeseveral forms when realized.

Referring to the drawings herein as examples of reference, showing thecharacteristics of the same parts or corresponding with all the variousviews, referring particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is obvious that theinvention comprises one cylindrical emitter (2) which is firmly embodiedinside a cylindrical water conduit (1) and which emitter (2) allowswater to pass through grooved openings (4) from the conduit into theflow passage (5) through which and from which the water is guided to thedeformable part (6) which part compensates automatically the waterpressure. After passing the deformable parts, the water enters into theperipheral channel (7) and so it meets the exit holes (3) and flows outatan already regulated volume of water independently of the variationsof pressure which might exist inside the conduit (1). The emitter issymmetrical in that the peripheral channel is located in the middle oftheemitter, and water can enter the emitter from either side. That is,each side of the emitter comprises water inlets (4), flow passages (5),and deformable parts (6).

Reference is made also to FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 where the flow passage (5)isshaped from the protuberances on the external peripheral surface ofthe emitter (2), which protuberances are glued together with the insideperipheral surface of the conduit (1) to form the flow passage.

Reference is made also to FIGS. 7 and 8 where the deformable part (6) ofthe emitter (2) is relatively deformed and compensates the waterpressure,shown by arrows (8).

Reference is made to the peripheral channel (7) through which water isguided to exits (3) which exits (3) have been drilled on a zone of theconduit (1), which zone of the conduit (1) is positioned in the middleof the length of the emitter (2) so facilitating the coincidence ofexits (3)and peripheral channel (7). In a preferred embodiment, theemitter has siderings that encircle the emitter on either side of theperipheral channel. These side rings provide support for the peripheralchannel, preventing the pressure inside the water conduit fromcollapsing the channel against the inside wall of the conduit.

Reference is made to FIGS. 7 and 8 which show the emitter (2) made offlexible material with elastic properties.

During operation, the emitter which inside the conduit compensates thewater pressure with self-regulation, operates according to the functionofthe invention as follows: Water flowing inside the conduit (1) arrivesat emitter inlet openings, (4) enters inside the emitter (2), and isguided through passage (5) where its volume is reduced due to the sizeand lengthof the passage and due to the caused frictions and stirringsof water passing through the path having the form of a labyrinth. Afterthis travel, the water enters the deformable part (6) of the emitterwhere the wall of this part (6) is variably deformed according to theexisting pressure of water inside the conduit (1) and said part (6)automatically reduces the flow of water accordingly. At this moment, thecompensation ofwater pressure inside the conduit (1) is effected and allemitters positioned inside and embodied in the conduit have the sameemission of water volume per hour of irrigation, independently of thevariations of the water pressure, which is applied in the water conduitall along its length.

I claim:
 1. A drip irrigation system, comprising a water conduit (1) anda series of cylindrical, one-piece, pressure compensating emitters (2),inserted in said water conduit (1), wherein each emitter (2) has a bodycomprised of a flexible elastic material and having inlet means (4) incommunication with the interior of the water conduit (1), said inletmeans (4) in communication with a labyrinth-like flow passage (5)defined between the outer periphery of the emitter body and the interiorwall of said conduit (1), said flow passage passing through a deformablepart (6) of the emitter body and opening into a peripheral channel (7)communicating with an exit hole in the wall of the water conduit (1),said deformable part (6) of the emitter body being deformed in responseto the water pressure within the water conduit (1) and coacting with theinner surface of the water conduit, thereby maintaining the water flowthrough the passage (5) on a constant level independently of the waterpressure variation within the water conduit, characterized in that eachemitter (2) is symmetrical having the peripheral channel (7) placed inthe middle of the length of the emitter body with an inlet means (4), aflow passage (5) and a deformable part (6) located on each side of saidchannel (7).
 2. A drip irrigation system according to claim 1,characterized in that said peripheral channel (7) is equipped with siderings to protect the peripheral channel (7) from being compressed to theinside wall of the water conduit (1).
 3. A cylindrical one-piecepressure compensating emitter for inserting in a water conduit of a dripirrigation system, wherein the emitter (2) has a body comprised of aflexible elastic material and having inlet means (4) in communicationwith the interior of the water conduit (1), said inlet means (4)communicating with a labyrinth-like flow passage (5) defined between theouter periphery of the emitter body and the interior wall of saidconduit (1), said flow passage passing through a deformable part (6) ofthe emitter body and opening into a peripheral channel (7) communicatingwith an exit hole in the wall of the water conduit (1), said deformablepart (6) of the emitter body being deformed in response to the waterpressure within the water conduit (1) and coating with the inner surfaceof the water conduit, thereby maintaining the water flow through thepassage (5) on a constant level independently of the water pressurevariation within the water conduit, characterized in that the emitter(2) is symmetrical having the peripheral channel (7) placed in themiddle of the length of the emitter body with an inlet means (4), a flowpassage (5) and a deformable part (6) located on each side of saidchannel (7).